Apparatus for playing games of skill



R. M. TATE APPARATUS FOR PLAYING GAMES 0F SKILL vFiled pril 21. 1924 2 sheets-sheet 1 Jmamlou Rnvmann MOYER 7131's,

Jam. 2?, 1925- 1,524,598

R. M. TATE APPARATUS FOR PLAYING GAMES 0F SKILL Filed April 21 24 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MM 1 N RAYMOND MOWER Tart,

Patented Jan. 27, 1925.

UlTED STT RAYMOND IVIOYER TATE, OF PLYMOUTH, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR- PLAYING GAMES OF SKILL.

Application filed April 21, 1924. Serial No, 707,888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAYMOND Horne TATE, of-Plymouth, England, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland,

have invented certain new and useful Tmproved Apparatus for Playing Games of Skill, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for playing games of skill.

An apparatus made in accordance with this invention comprises a stationary base or table, a rotatable post or the like projecting vertically upwards from about the centre of said base, means for rotating the post or the like, an arm extending horizontally therefrom, a model figure carried at or near the outer end of the arm, one or more objects placed on the table in proximity to the path of the model figure, a pivoted member on the model figure the free end of which is adapted to engage the said objects, means for normally holding the pivoted I member so that the free end clears the said objects and means for moving the pivoted member at will into and out of engagement with the objects as the post or the like is rotated. Means may also be provided whereby the displacement of an object automatically stops the rotation of the post.

Also, electric or other means may be provided for giving an audible or visual warning that an object on the base has been displaced.

One form of apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, which are to some extent diagrammatic.

Fig. 1 shows a front elevation;

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation;

Fig. 3 shows a plan, of the apparatus so constructed Fig. 4 is a diagram of the wiring.

The apparatus consists of a circular railing or barrier a within which is a circular table 6, and a vertical post 0 in the centre of the table. A balanced horizontal arm d is pivoted on ball or other bearings to the post 0 and carries at one of its ends a small electric motor 6 driving an air-screw f, and at its other end a rigidly suspended figure 9 made to resemble a rider with a lance 72.. Round the table 6 are placed models j of animals or other objects, and the lance andthe arm of the model rider are pivoted and are normally held in such a position that the lance clears the objects j y' when the figure 9 is revolved with the arm cl.

Below the arm cl and attached thereto there is a disc is and a corresponding disc 9n, and brushes n nattached to the latter disc bear lightly on a series of contact segments 0 0 attached to the former dis-1'. Leads are taken from the segments to two electromagnets which are arranged to drawthe pivoted arm of the model rider in opposite directions. Hand-operated switches or pushknobs p p are provided whereby the players can supply electric current to the segments 0 0.

The arrangement of the segments 0 0 and of the brushes n n is such that if a switch is depressed when the lance h is very close to one of the objects y, both of the electromagnets which actuate the lance are excited and one of these electromagnets has more turns than the other and thus overcomes the said other electromagnet and draws the lance 71. down, causing it to strike one of the objects If the switch p is depressed too soon, only one of the electromagnets is excited and the lance is thrown upwards, the opposing magnet, which is excited immediately afterwards, becoming inoperative'by the displacement of the armature which actuates the lance.

The objects 7' 7' may be of metal and may be so arranged that when normally placed they bridge contacts in the circuit of a relay which causes an electric bell or an electric horn to sound when an object is displaced and at the same time, by any suitable means, causes the rotating post 0 to be stopped.

Fig. 4 shows a diagram of onemanner in which the wiring of this apparatus can be arranged. 1, 2, are the terminals for supplying current to the apparatus, 3 is the electric motor which drives the air screw, 4, 5, 6 are segments, 7, 8, 9 the brushes and 10, 11 two of the switches or push knobs. 12 is the winding of the magnet which raises the lance, 13 the winding of the mag net which lowers the lance. 14, 15, 16am three of the contacts which are normally bridged by the feet of the objects, 17 is a relay actuating the electric signal horn 18 when the circuit is broken at any of these contacts. 19 and 20 are switches adapted respectively to stop the motor 3 and silence the signal horn 18.

The apparatus is principallyintended for construction on a fairly large scale for the use of from about twelve to, say, thirty-six players, and is adapted for use at fairs and the like gatherings. Any convenient source of electric energy may be used in connection therewith.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for playing a game of skill comprising a stationary base or table, a post projecting vertically upwards from about the centre of the said table, an arm extending horizontally therefrom, means for rotating the said arm, a model figure carried near the outer end of the arm, an object placed on the table in proximity to the path of the model figure, a pivoted memher on the model figure the free end of which is adapted to engage the said object, means for normally holding the pivoted member so that the free end clears the said object, and means for moving the pivoted member at will into and out of engagement with the object as the arm is rotated.

2. Apparatus for playing a game of skill comprising a stationary table, a post projecting vertically upwards from about the centre of the said table, an arm extending horizontally therefrom, means for rotating the said arm comprising an electric motor attached thereto and an air-screw driven by the said motor, a model figure carried near the outer end of the arm, an object placed on the table in proximity to the path of the model figure, a pivoted member on the model figure the free end of which is adapted to engage the said object, means for normally holding the pivoted member so that the free end clears the said object and for moving the pivoted member at Will into and out of engagement with the object as the arm is rotated, the said means comprising two unequally wound electromagnets' I adapted to act on an iron arm attached to the said member and a. contact connected to the said magnets, adapted to be worked by a player and sliding contact members whereby the electric .current for this latter purpose and for driving the air-screw is attached thereto and an air-screw driven by the said motor, a model figure carried near the outer end of the arm, an object placed on the table in proximity to the path of the model figure, contactsnormally bridged by the said object, a relay connected to the said contacts, an electric alarm adapted to be actuated through the said relay by the removal of the object from the con tacts, a pivoted member on the model figure the free end of which is adapted to engage the said object, means for normally holding the pivoted member so that the free end clears the said object and for moving the pivoted member at .will into and out of engagement with the object as the arm is rotated, the said means comprising two unequally wound electromagnets adapted to act on an iron arm attached to the said memher and a contact connected to the said magnets, adapted to be worked by a player and sliding contact members whereby the electric current for this latter purpose and for driving the air-screw is led to the arm.

Apparatus for playing a game of skill comprising a stationary table, a post projecting vertically upwards from about the centre of the said table, an arm extending horizontally therefrom, means for rotating the said arm comprising an electric motor attached thereto and an air-screw driven by the said motor, a model figure carried near the outer end of the arm, an object placed on the table in proximity to the path of the model figure, contacts normally bridged by the said object, a relay connectcd to the said contacts, an electric alarm adapted to be actuated through the said rclay by the removal of the object from the contacts, electrically operated means where by the removal of the object cuts oli' the power from the electric motor and stops the arm, a pivoted member on the model figure the free end of which is adapted to engage the said object, means for normally holding the pivoted member so that the free end clears the said object and for moving the pivoted member at will into and out of engagement with the object as the arm is rotated, the said means comprising two unequally wound electromagnets adapted to act on an iron arm attached to the said member and a contact connected to the said magnets, adapted to be worked by a player and sliding contact members whereby the electric current for this latter purpose and for driving the air-screw is led to the arm.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

RAYMOND MOYER TATE.

T Ii 

